Men's Basketball Drops Another Close One
February 11, 2004 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) _ Antonio Burks scored 25 points to lift Memphis to a 79-73 win against East Carolina on Wednesday night.
Also scoring double-digits for the Tigers (17-4, 8-2, Conference USA) were Sean Banks and Anthony Rice with 13 points apiece and Jeremy Hunt with 11. Banks also grabbed nine rebounds and went 7-for-7 from the foul line.
Two players for East Carolina posted double-doubles on the night. Derrick Wiley led the Pirates (9-11, 1-9) with 21 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 10-of-11 from the foul line. Moussa Badiane netted 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Also scoring double-digits for the Pirates were Belton Rivers with 12 off the bench and Mike Cook with 10.
East Carolina vs. Memphis
Feb. 11, 2004
Postgame Quotes
East Carolina Head Coach Bill Herrion
On Antonio Burks
"I think if you look at the better teams in this league they have older veteran players that make plays down the stretch."
"I think the two problems in this game were shot selection and some stupid, untimely fouls that we committed at crucial points. The margin for error in this league is just so small we cannot give them extra opportunities."
"These kids understand how to play hard, we just have to play smarter at crucial times."
"I knew it was going to be a tough match-up for Cook guarding Burks, a freshman guarding a senior. Cook got the two fouls early and that hurt us because we need him on the floor."
"Our young guys are playing really well and I think that is good for the future. I thought Belton Rivers came back and played decent basketball tonight and Moussa is getting better and better every game."
On losing close games
"It is frustrating right now. When we are knocking on the door and you know you can taste it, it is very frustrating."
On Derrick Wiley
"Derrick felt awful after the Charlotte game. He is a great kid and has come an awful long way as a player."
Memphis Head Coach John Calipari
"This was a great hard fought win for us. I thought East Carolina played great and Billy did an unbelievable job at having them ready to do what they needed to do to beat us."
On ECU's Defense
"He changed defenses, he went zone, he went box and one, and he did stuff in man to man. They went man and that surprised me, I did not think he would play any man to man. That means he wasn't afraid of us and they were not afraid us."
"I have a team that makes plays down the stretch both on defense and offense. They have a will to win."
On East Carolina
"If that's how they are playing they are winning games in this league. I know they have lost right now but I watched the Charlotte game and that was their game and this game they easily could have won."
"I think this is a hard place to play with the fans right there on you. Billy did a great job but it was a great win for us."
East Carolina vs. Memphis
Feb. 11. 2004
Postgame Notes
